(I began to see)

I began to see
it wouldn’t be so bad
when Sarah said,
This will be a life’s work.

My god.
I am so scared of the years.

I see you grinning but
you are burying your joy.

Doubt follows me around
like a skinny dog.

The task itself is the soft-eyed mule
that will walk with you to the end.
He has no shame.

This is Alicia Mountain's first publication of poetry. Her work has appeared on the podcast, "Story Tapes," and is forthcoming in Sporadicus. She will be attending the MFA program at the University of Montana this fall.